Gay couples have simple weddings in Laguna Hills

July 1, 2013

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 12:28 p.m.

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Indira Archer-Marrero, left, of San Diego, and Kim Archer-Marrero of Barbados seal their marriage ceremony with a kiss Monday morning at the Clerk-Recorder South County Branch in Laguna Hills. It was officiated by deputy commissioner Daniel Gutierrez. ANA VENEGAS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Laguna Woods residents David Price, left, 82, and Ron Cook, 82, kiss at their marriage ceremony Monday morning at the Clerk-Recorder South County Branch in Laguna Hills as deputy commissioner Mary Jack applauds. The couple has been together for 37 years and was one of the first in line Monday morning for the ceremony. ANA VENEGAS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Indira Archer-Marrero, center, of San Diego, and Kim Archer-Marrero of Barbados celebrate their marriage Monday morning at the Clerk-Recorder South County Branch in Laguna Hills, which was officiated by deputy commissioner Daniel Gutierrez. ANA VENEGAS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Tony Lecosia, left, and Christopher Lecosia exchange marriage vows with the help of deputy commissioner Daniel Gutierrez Monday morning at the Clerk-Recorder South County Branch in Laguna Hills. The couple decided to combine their names for a new last name. ANA VENEGAS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Laguna Woods residents Ron Cook, 82, left, and David Price, 82, right, pore over their application for a marriage license before their wedding ceremony Monday. Cook and Price have been together for 37 years. ANA VENEGAS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Jenny Yang, 29, left, and Carol Yang, 30, both of San Diego, kiss at the end of their wedding ceremony as their friends cheer them on. The couple chose to marry in Orange County because the county started doing wedding ceremonies and licenses on Monday for same-sex couples. ANA VENEGAS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Laguna Woods residents Diane Phelps, 57, left, and Joan Brown, 67, kiss at the end of their wedding ceremony Monday morning. They staked out the first spot in line at 6 a.m. Monday and were first same-sex couple to marry at the Clerk-Recorder South County Branch in Laguna Hills that day. They have been together for 26 years. ANA VENEGAS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Diane Baker, right, places a wedding ring on Marie Napoli's hand during their wedding ceremony Monday at the Clerk-Recorder South County Branch in Laguna Hills. ANA VENEGAS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Marie Napoli, 75, left, and Diane Baker, 70, kiss during their wedding ceremony Monday at the Clerk-Recorder South County Branch in Laguna Hills. Same-sex marriages ceremonies took place at three locations in Orange County beginning Monday morning. ANA VENEGAS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Indira Archer-Marrero, left, of San Diego, and Kim Archer-Marrero of Barbados seal their marriage ceremony with a kiss Monday morning at the Clerk-Recorder South County Branch in Laguna Hills. It was officiated by deputy commissioner Daniel Gutierrez. ANA VENEGAS, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

LAGUNA HILLS – Diane Phelps and Joan Brown were the first same-sex couple to be married at the Laguna Hills Civic Center on Monday morning. They've been together for 26 years.

They said their vows inside the courthouse, dressed in a matching outfit of striped gray pants and white shirts.

"We didn't get married last time," Phelps, 57, said. She said the Supreme Court's striking down of DOMA made it more significant, as the Laguna Woods couple will both be able to benefit from their federal pensions.

"There's a significance," Phelps said. "We already have a commitment."

David Price and Ron Cook, both 82, live together in Laguna Woods Village and have been together for 37 years. As they waited in line with several other same-sex couples Monday morning, they both said it was a long time coming.

"It means we have a commitment that we should have done a long time ago," Price said. "We love each other."

"We were born this way. We're happy together," Cook said. "What more could you ask for?"

Several couples had driven up to Laguna Hills from San Diego County, where an appointment is still being required for them to get a marriage license. Carla and Sandra Keehn, 52, had been waiting for the decision and when they found they'd have to wait for a license in San Diego, came up to Orange County.

"We're very delighted that Orange County has been so accommodating," Sandra Keehn said. "To have the recognition from our nation's highest court ... I've been in a happy state of shock."

The line at the Clerk-Recorder's South County Branch Office moved quickly and by 11 a.m., 13 licenses and certificates had been issued to both same-sex and heterosexual couples. Daniel Gutierrez, deputy commissioner of weddings, said he'd expected a larger crowd but that more couples would likely arrive in the afternoon.

He said he'd found out about the court decision to begin issuing licenses immediately on Friday afternoon, which gave them some time to plan.

Christopher Leahy and Tony Nicosia had to get back in line after going back to their home in Laguna Hills.

"I forgot my wallet," Nicosia said. He said his nephew, who was at their house this morning, didn't notice their matching outfits of black dress pants and light blue shirts when they left or came back. "He was on his iPod," he laughed. "He'll be the first to know, though."

The couple hadn't yet told anyone in the family they were going down to the courthouse but were concerned Prop. 8 supporters might try to delay implementation of the decision.

"After DOMA was repealed we made an appointment," Leahy said. But they decided not to wait this time.

The couple decided to combine their last names and changed their last names to "Lecosia." The two said their vows and exchanged rings in the landscaped courtyard in the parking lot in front of the clerk-recorder's office and the civic center.

Another couple in matching outfits – this time washed-out jeans, white shirts and white Converse sneakers – watched the ceremony from the side, hugging each other. Indira, 41, and Kim Archer-Marrero, 47, had come up from San Diego.

For them, the overturning of DOMA had very significant implications. Kim Archer-Marrero is from Barbados and she can now apply for citizenship as the spouse of a U.S. citizen. Kim had arrived to visit Indira on Thursday. The couple met online and visit each other every three months.

"We wanted to jump on this legal moment," Indira said. "We've set a date two times. Each time we were waiting for Prop. 8 and DOMA to be decided."

The two said it seemed like everything came together to make the wedding happen. Indira, who is a nurse, said she'd just gotten Monday off work because it was going to be a slow day when she found out about the resumption of same-sex marriages.

"She's not leaving this time," Indira said. "I'm not letting her go."

The couple shared a long kiss after exchanging vows, with a close friend who'd come as their witness and the Lecosias applauding. They raised their arms in celebration, hands clasped.

The Lecosias and Archer-Marreros exchanged several hugs back and forth, congratulating each other and laughing.

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